Labour Court rejects Bus Eireann drivers’ €2,539 euro-changeover claim

In 2002, the Labour Court recommended that Bus Eireann not concede a claim by the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union (SIPTU) for a once-off €2,539 payment for 1,130 full-time drivers. The recommendation was dated 14 May 2002. The unions said drivers faced extra work and customer difficulties during the euro changeover, and argued that training was inadequate and cash dispensers could not handle all coin denominations. Bus Eireann said it had provided training, a €152.37 familiarisation allowance and five extra minutes of marginal time a day for the first six weeks. The Court considered those measures fair and reasonable.